Device for preventing mud or dirt splatter against windows and sides of a building

ABSTRACT

A device, in the form of a grill, is provided for preventing mud or dirt splatter against the windows and sides of a building during a rainfall. The device is made of interlocked strips, with one set of strips slanted or inclined downwardly and away from the window or building to direct the rainfall away from the window or building. A modification includes placement of a perforated plate or sheet under the device to inhibit the growth of weeds into the spaces formed by the grill.

United States Patent Praisler 51 May 16, 1972 [54] DEVICE FOR PREVENTING MUD OR DIRT SPLATTER AGAINST WINDOWS AND SIDES OF A BUILDING [72] Inventor: Ladd C. Praisler, 3121 Hamilton Road,

Rt. 6, Medina, Ohio 44256 [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 27,922

[52] 0.8. CI ..52/97, 52/169, 52/473, 52/668 [51] lnt. Cl. ..E02d 31/00, E02d 31/06 [58] Field of Search ..52/169, 97, 107, 102, 471, 52/662, 581, 473, 78

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,237,564 4/1941 Keyes ..52/107 1,108,613 8/1914 Parker... ....52/107 2,384,303 9/1945 Heath ..52/668 1,695,810 12/1928 Magill ..52/169 3,262,487 7/1966 Gustafson et a1. 3,515,373 6/1970 Abbe 1,799,658 4/1931 Utzler ..52/668 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 66,888 4/1914 Great Britain ..52/668 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Attorney-Isler and Ornstein [57] ABSTRACT A device, in the form of a grill, is provided for preventing mud or dirt splatter against the windows and sides of a building during a rainfall. The device is made of interlocked strips, with one set of strips slanted or inclined downwardly and away from the window or building to direct the rainfall away from the window or building. A modification includes placement of a perforated plate or sheet under'the device to inhibit the growth of weeds into the spaces formed by the grill.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDW 16 I912 3,662,503

INVENTOR. LADD C.PRAISLER ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR PREVENTING MUD OR DIRT SPLAT'I'ER AGAINST WINDOWS AND SIDES OF A BUILDING During a rainfall, and particularly a heavy rainfall or rainstorm, the raindrops striking the ground adjacent the basement windows and lower portions of the sides of a building, splatter against such windows and portions, depositing mud and dirt thereon, which, when it dries, becomes caked thereon.

The present invention has, as its primary object, the provision of a device for preventing mud or dirt splatter against windows and sides of a building or similar structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which consists of parts which may be easily assembled and disassembled, so that thedevice may be sold or transported in a relatively small or flat package or container, thereby saving packaging, transportation and storage costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which can be easily and quickly installed in operative position and without the use of tools and fastening means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, with which may be incorporated a perforated sheet of plastic or like material for inhibiting the growth of weeds into the spaces formed by the device when assembled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of the present invention, and showing its relationship to a basement window which the device is designed to protect against splattering of mud or dirt thereon;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one of the transversely spaced supporting members of the device, and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one of the longitudinally extending rain diverting members of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference character W designates a basement window of a dwelling or other building, which window is normally situated adjacent or fairly close to the ground or ground level on which the dwelling is situated, and which is designated by reference character G.

The device of the present invention consists of a series of laterally spaced rectangular members 1, which are preferably made of galvanized sheet metal, the dimensions of which may be varied, but which, for practical purposes, should be about 3 inches in width, and about 6 to 9 inches in length, and a series of longitudinally extending rectangular members 2 also preferably made of galvanized sheet metal, the dimensions of which may be varied, but which, for practical purposes, should be about 3 inches in width, and of a length determined by the width of the window W.

The members 1 are provided in their upper edges 3 with a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel slots 4, of a depth of about 1% inches, and a width of about one-sixteenth inch, these slots being so inclined with reference to the edge 3 that when the members are arranged vertically, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper ends of the slots are closer to the plane of the window W than are the lower ends of the slots, the angle of inclination, in this instance, being about 45 degrees to the plane of the window or to the edge 3.

The members 2 are provided in their lower or bottom edges with a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel slots 6 which extend upwardly about 1% inches and have a width of about one-sixteenth inch, these slots extending perpendicularly to the edge 5 of the member 2. The number of slots 6 in each of the members 2 corresponds to the number of members 1 used in forming the device.

In assembling the members 2 with the members 1, the members l are held upright, with the slots 4 slanted toward the window W, and the members 2 are then interlocked with the members 1 by inserting the members 2 into the slots 4 in such a manner that the slots 6 embrace the portions of the sides of the members 1 which are below the slots 4, and the bottom edges of the members 1 and 2 are substantially co-planar.

The interlocked members I and 2 thus form a grill which is laid flat on the ground, as closely as possible to the window W, so that the plane of the grill is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the window.

During a rainfall, the rain will fall vertically or substantially vertically, on the inclined or slanted members 2, and the raindrops will be diverted by these members in a direction away from the window, and penetrate the ground or soil. In this manner, the rain striking the ground or soil will not be splattered against the window, and the window will remain clean.

Although the invention has been described particularly with reference to its use in combination or association with a basement window of a dwelling, it will be readily understood that the device may be used adjacent portions of the building or dwelling not provided with windows, as, for example, to protect and prevent splattering against the siding of the building, at least those portions of the siding adjacent the ground or ground level.

It is also within the contemplation of this invention, to provide a perforated plastic sheet, designated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 7, which is laid on the ground underneath or below the grill. Such a sheet will prevent weeds from growing up from the soil into the spaces formed by the grill, but being perforated, will provide necessary aeration to permit earthworms to survive and be available for use in fishing.

It is thus seen that I have provided a device which is highly efficient for preventing mud or dirt from being splattered during a rainfall against the windows and sides of a building or similar structure.

, It is also seen that I have provided a device which consists of parts of relatively simple, low-cost construction, which may be easily assembled and disassembled, so that the device may be sold or transported in a relatively small or flat package or container, thereby saving packaging, transportation and storage costs.

It is further seen that I have provided a device which can be I easily and quickly installed in operative position, and without the use of tools and fastening devices.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, sizeand arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a vertical side portion of a building adjacent the ground level, means for preventing splatter of mud or dirt caused by a rainfall onto said portion of the building, said means comprising a grill mounted on the ground adjacent said portion of said building, and disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said vertical side portion of the building and consisting of interlocked members selected ones of which are angularly disposed toward and parallel with said portion of the building and with their upper edges disposed toward and closer to the vertical side of said building than their respective lower edges whereby raindrops impinging on said selected members are diverted away from said building, and a perforated sheet disposed on the ground underlying said grill.

2. The combination, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means consists of a plurality of laterally spaced upright members, each having a plurality of spaced parallel inclined slots in its upper edge, and a plurality of spaced flat members extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said firstnamed members each including a plurality of slots parallel to the respective ends of said flat member the slots of said second-named member being complementary to and disposed within the slots of said first-named members.

ty of spaced parallel slots in the uppermost edge, a plurality of spaced flat members extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said upright members, each of said flat members.

including a plurality of slots in the lower edge thereof parallel to the respective ends of said flat members, said upright members and said flat members being interlocked by interengagement of said respective slot portions to define said grillwork and a perforated sheet on the ground underlying said grill.

t l i i 

1. In combination with a vertical side portion Of a building adjacent the ground level, means for preventing splatter of mud or dirt caused by a rainfall onto said portion of the building, said means comprising a grill mounted on the ground adjacent said portion of said building, and disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said vertical side portion of the building and consisting of interlocked members selected ones of which are angularly disposed toward and parallel with said portion of the building and with their upper edges disposed toward and closer to the vertical side of said building than their respective lower edges whereby raindrops impinging on said selected members are diverted away from said building, and a perforated sheet disposed on the ground underlying said grill.
 2. The combination, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means consists of a plurality of laterally spaced upright members, each having a plurality of spaced parallel inclined slots in its upper edge, and a plurality of spaced flat members extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first-named members each including a plurality of slots parallel to the respective ends of said flat member the slots of said second-named member being complementary to and disposed within the slots of said first-named members.
 3. The combination, as recited in claim 2, wherein said second-named members have slots in their lower edges into which the lower portions of said first-named members extend.
 4. The combination, as recited in claim 1, wherein said portion of the building is a basement window.
 5. In a device for preventing splatter of mud or dirt caused by rainfall onto the ground adjacent a portion of a building structure the combination comprising; a grill-work consisting of interlocked grill elements, said grill elements including a plurality of laterally spaced upright members having a plurality of spaced parallel slots in the uppermost edge, a plurality of spaced flat members extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said upright members, each of said flat members including a plurality of slots in the lower edge thereof parallel to the respective ends of said flat members, said upright members and said flat members being interlocked by interengagement of said respective slot portions to define said grillwork and a perforated sheet on the ground underlying said grill. 